The Scrimshaw of cruelty is available from the Player-owned ports update. This item requires 92 Fletching and 10 Ancient bones to make, as well as unlocking the Scrimshaw Crafter and workshop where it's made. It also gives 4000 Fletching experience, as well as whatever bonus is applied by the player's workshop. When equipped, this scrimshaw gives each Ranged hit extra damage. It lasts for three hours, after which it crumbles into dust.

Due to an update, the Scrimshaw of cruelty no longer has a chance to cause poison or bleed damage with each successful Ranged hit. Instead, it simply applies 5% extra damage to each successful Ranged hit.

On 20 January2013, players discovered a bug with the scrimshaw where the poison effect would persist even after death in certain minigames. Mass casualties ensued, as some unfortunate players were trapped in death loops until a fix could be deployed.

Another bug with the scrimshaw was fixed on 9 April2013, in which a player poisoned by it would be permanently poisoned until they cure themselves or die.

The Queen Black Dragon did not get damaged by the 'poison splats' at all if this item was equipped while fighting her. This was not a bug, as she is immune to the effects of poison (this also applies to any monster with poison immunity). However, it was still able to cause bleeding.